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The five things that actually matter
Producer, region, grape, vintage, ABV — in that order. The producer is the most reliable signal. A good producer makes good wine in average years; a bad one disappoints in great ones. Learn 5–10 names you trust in any region and you've solved 80% of wine buying.
The region — the more specific, the better. “Argentina” tells you little; “Uco Valley” tells you a lot; “Gualtallary” is a specific sub-region with serious terroir.
The grape tells you what to expect in the glass. The vintage is the year of harvest. “NV” or no year = blended from multiple years. The ABV is a surprisingly good shortcut.
